Georgia authorities have released body camera footage of the rescue of an abandoned newborn found in a plastic shopping bag beside a road.
Neighbors in Forsyth County in metro Atlanta heard a baby crying and discovered so-called "Baby India" tied up in the bag earlier this month.
Alan Regatz said it was an "act of God" that he and his daughters found the newborn.
The new video shows Forsyt County Sheriff's deputies tearing open the bag to find the newborn with her umbilical cord still attached. The video shows officers frantically wrapping the crying baby in a jacket.
"She's a sweetheart," Deputy Sheriff Terry Roper said on the video. "Oh, look at how precious you are!"
Forsyth Sheriff Ron Freeman said Roper has two kids of his own and knew how to comfort the hours-old baby.
"It doesn’t surprise me to see DFC Roper acting in this way," Freeman said. “He’s a dad. He’s a good deputy and a good man more importantly. He went into dad mode.”
Freeman said the department released the video to encourage anyone with information on who abandoned the baby to come forward.
While it is a criminal investigation, the mother may not be charged depending on her circumstances.
Freeman thanked everyone who helped find and care for the baby.
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“Real heroes of the story, our citizens who found this baby, but just as much so, our deputy sheriffs and first responders who immediately got there and cared for this baby,” Freeman said.
The baby has since been taken into the custody of the Division of Family and Children Services' care and is in good health.
Police are asking anyone with information to call the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office at 770-888-7308. Callers can remain anonymous.
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